Coins from Ethiopia

Known as Abyssinia until 1931, Ethiopia is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa region, bordered by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Kenya. With a population of more than 102 million, it is the most populous landlocked country in the world. Maria Theresa Thalers were used extensively as coinage until the Ethiopian Birr was introduced as a standard currency in 1893. Initially subdivided into 20 Ghersh, or 40 Bessa a new currency divided into 16 Ghersh or 32 Bessa was issued in 1903. The Birr was decimalized in 1931 and divided into 100 Metonnyas, and this currency was used until the Italian occupation of 1936 and was reintroduced in 1945 after liberation. Ethiopia’s numismatic history was affected by the multitude of different currency influences that arose in the following years. The Birr had first been tied to the Italian Lire and then to the East African Shilling, during which time the subdivision became known as the Santeem, after the French Centime. These new conventions were formalised in 1976 when a new Birr coinage was released, still used to the present day. Ethiopian coins carry inscriptions in the Amharic language, using the Amharic alphabet. The Ethiopian numeric system also differs from the decimal system used in most countries, and the calendar also uses a different zero point, eight years earlier than the more common used AD/CE calendar. This can create confusion in the identification and precise dating of Ethiopian coinage. Currently circulating denominations are 10, 25 and 50 Santeem, and a bimetallic 1 Birr. Non-circulating commemorative coins are issued in higher denominations, usually struck in precious metal.
Wikidata: Q115

Display options108 results found.
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Non-circulating coin

10 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I
1964 (1972)

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Haile Selassie I
Silver (.925) • 40.00 g • ⌀ 50 mm
KM# 53, Schön# 43, N# 135523
Available for swap 20 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Anniversary of the Birth and 50th Anniversary of the Accession of Emperor Hailé Selassié I
Gold (.900) • 8 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 39, Schön# 35, N# 58819
50 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Anniversary of the Birth and 50th Anniversary of the Accession of Emperor Hailé Selassié I
Gold (.900) • 20 g • ⌀ 33 mm
KM# 40, N# 281242
50 Dollars (Emperor Theodros II)
1972

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Theodros II
Gold (.900) • 20 g
KM# 55, N# 191415
50 Dollars (Emperor Yohannes IV)
1972

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Yohannes IV
Gold (.900) • 20 g
KM# 56, N# 191416
50 Dollars (Emperor Menelik II)
1972

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Menelik II
Gold (.900) • 20 g
KM# 57, N# 191417
50 Dollars (Empress Zauditu)
1972

Non-circulating coin: Empress Zauditu
Gold (.900) • 20 g
KM# 58, N# 191418
100 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Birthday and 50th Jubilee of Reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Gold (.900) • 40 g
KM# 41, N# 278350
100 Dollars (Emperor Haile Selassie)
1972

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Haile Selassie
Gold (.900) • 40 g
KM# 59, N# 191419
200 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Birthday and 50th Jubilee of Reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Gold (.900) • 80 g
KM# 42, N# 278358
Available for swap 2 Birr (World Cup)
1964-1974 (1982)

Non-circulating coin: 1982 World Cup, Spain
Copper-nickel • 23.25 g • ⌀ 38.75 mm
KM# 64, Schön# 60, N# 27999
Available for swap 10 Birr (Bearded Vulture)
1970 (1978)

Non-circulating coin: 15th anniversary of the WWF
Silver (.925) • 25.31 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 61, Schön# 55, N# 40467
Available for swap 10 Birr (Bearded Vulture)
1970 (1978)

Non-circulating coin: 15th anniversary of the WWF
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 61a, N# 364493
Available for swap 20 Birr (International Year of the Child)
1972 (1980)

Non-circulating coin: International Year of the Child
Silver (.925) • 23.33 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 54, Schön# 58, N# 33635
Available for swap 20 Birr (World Football)
1974 (1982)

Non-circulating coin: 1982 World Cup
Silver (.925) • 23.33 g • ⌀ 38.5 mm
KM# 65, Schön# 61, N# 38134
20 Birr (UN Decade for Women)
1976 (1984)

Non-circulating coin: UN Decade for Women
Silver (.925) • 23.33 g • ⌀ 38 mm
KM# 73, N# 279982
Available for swap 20 Birr (UNICEF - Children of the World)
1998

Non-circulating coin: 50th Anniversary of UNICEF - Children of the World
Silver (.925) • 23.33 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 74, Schön# 68, N# 45921
Available for swap 20 Birr (Millennium - Lucy)
2000 (2008)

Non-circulating coin: New Ethiopian Millennium - Discover of Lucy
Silver (.900) • 30.0000 g • ⌀ 40 mm
KM# 76, Schön# 69, N# 43464
Available for swap 25 Birr (Mountain Nyala)
1970 (1978)

Non-circulating coin: 15th anniversary of the WWF
Silver (.925) • 35 g • ⌀ 42 mm
KM# 62a, Schön# 56a, N# 40353
50 Birr (Disabled Persons)
1974 (1982)

Non-circulating coin: International Year of Disabled Persons
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 66, Schön# 63, N# 39771
50 Birr (Revolution Anniversary)
1977 (1985)

Non-circulating coin: 10th Anniversary of Revolution
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.6 mm
KM# 75, Schön# 67, N# 31989
200 Birr (World Cup)
1982

Non-circulating coin: 1982 Soccer World Cup in Spain
Gold (.900) • 7.13 g
KM# 67, N# 276482
200 Birr (UN Decade for Women)
1976 (1984)

Non-circulating coin: UN Decade for Women
Gold (.900) • 7.13 g
KM# 72, Schön# 66, N# 279983
400 Birr (International Year of the Child)
1972 (1980)

Non-circulating coin: International Year of the Child
Gold (.900) • 17.17 g • ⌀ 27 mm
KM# 60, Schön# 59, N# 52441
500 Birr (Year of the Disabled Person)
1974 (1982)

Non-circulating coin: International Year of Disabled Persons
Gold (.917) • 15.98 g • ⌀ 28.4 mm
KM# 68, Schön# 64, N# 297380
600 Birr (Walia Ibex)
1970 (1978)

Non-circulating coin: 15th anniversary of the WWF
Gold (.900) • 33.44 g • ⌀ 34 mm
KM# 63, Schön# 57, N# 86812

Pattern

1 Gersh - Menelik II (Pattern)
1889 (1897)

Pattern
Gold • 1.4 g • ⌀ 16.5 mm
KM# Pn1, N# 279973
⅛ Birr - Zauditu (Pattern)
1917 (1925)

Pattern
Gold • 4.85 g
X# 3.1, X# 3.2, Fr# 26, N# 182674
⅛ Birr - Haile Selassie I (Pattern)
1921 (1929)

Pattern
Silver • ⌀ 20 mm
N# 280361
¼ Birr - Menelik II (Pattern)
1897

Pattern
Gold • 6.75 g
KM# Pn2, N# 86063
¼ Birr - Zauditu (Pattern)
1917 (1925)

Pattern
Gold • 10.37 g • ⌀ 25 mm
X# 4, Fr# 25, N# 299100
½ Birr - Menelik II (Lion's right foreleg raised - Pattern)
1889 (1897)

Pattern
Gold (.900) • 14.11 g • ⌀ 30 mm
KM# Pn4, N# 317708
½ Birr - Menelik II (Lion's right foreleg raised - Pattern)
1889 (1897)

Pattern
Gold (.900) • 21.45 g • ⌀ 30 mm
N# 313165
½ Birr - Zauditu (Pattern)
1916 (1924)

Pattern
Gold
X# 5, N# 279975
1 Birr - Menelik II (Pattern)
1884 (1892)

Pattern
Bronze • 34.66 g
N# 280191
1 Birr - Menelik II (Pattern)
1889 (1897)

Pattern
Gold (.900) • 41.52 g • ⌀ 45 mm
KM# Pn 5, N# 315090
1 Birr - Menelik II (Pattern - Right foreleg raised)
1892 (1900)

Pattern
Silver • 28.0750 g • ⌀ 40 mm
KM# Pn5, N# 181826
1 Birr - Zauditu (Pattern)
1917 (1925)

Pattern
Gold (.900) • 41.31 g • ⌀ 40 mm
Fr# 23, N# 315092

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